SPIN LIKE THE WIND-the blog of Nigel James.

CHRISTIANS DON'T LIKE SEX.....WE LOVE IT!

This afternoon I visited Porthcawl Comprehensive School and addressed 200 sixth-formers (Seniors, for our USA readers) on the subject of Christianity and Sexuality. Entitled 'Christians don't like sex..we love it' basically the 45 minute presentation covered a Biblical view of sex and sexuality. It's good fun to present but I have to make myself vulnerable and take some risks in order to really communicate. Looking at the faces of some of the girls and guys in the audience, I can see that they are hearing this stuff too late to avoid being hurt by, or feeling guilty about, their sexual experimentation. Sexuality, self-worth, relationships, are such a central part of life, and I'm thankful for a valuable opportunity to offer to these teenagers a different model than the one that media and culture persuades them to adopt.

OFFICE FIRE

Been back in the Ignite Office for a couple of days catching up at my desk before a few days break with Gill. Then 2 busy days early next week before going back on the road with Third Day. Came across this great quote from Samuel Logan Brengle, who was an early leader of the Salvation Army and an evangelist:

'What is fire? it is love, it is faith, it is hope, it is passion, purpose, determination, it is utter devotion, it is divine discontent with formality, ceremonialism, lukewarmness, indifference, sham, noise, parade and spiritual death. It is singleness of eye, and a consecration unto death. It is God the Holy Ghost burning in and through a humble, holy, faithful person.'

COME TOGETHER COMPOUND

Here's a video clip from the opening of the school compound in India-posted as a thanks to the guys in Third Day for helping raise the funds to purchase 3 acres of land.

LET GOD.......

Tomorrow I fly home for a week or so before rejoining Third Day on the road. Today the guys had an important meeting to discuss future plans, and I shared about new wine and new wineskins. We started the meeting in a restaurant and some of us finished it in the dressing room hot tub! Later we had a tour communion service where we focused on God's sacrificial love. I talked briefly from 1 John 5 about love in action and then told the story of when I asked Max Lucado what his message would be if he only had 5 minutes to share his faith with someone. Max said he had 3 points in priority order:
1. LET GOD LOVE YOU - open yourself to the perfect love of God.
2. LET GOD SAVE YOU - accept God's saving love shown through Jesus Christ.
3. LET GOD HAVE YOU- in response to God's saving love, give yourself completely to Him as a disciple of Jesus.

TRUTH AND ILLUSION

The acoustic set in the middle of Third Day's show is always very well received, especially tonight when the guys added a song from their new Christmas Offerings Album. The song, which they rehearsed at the last minute on the tour bus outside, talks about the timeless truth of the birth of Jesus and it is called Born in Bethlehem. And where are we playing tonight?..... Bethlehem, Pennsylvania of course!
Earlier we went to see our second magicians film in a week. This one was called 'The Illusionist' and although it wasn't quite up to 'The Prestige' it was certainly an entertaining film. It starred Edward Norton and Paul Giammatti:
Here's a quick synopsis for you:

In a world where nothing is as it appears, an illusionist and a police inspector face off in a challenge of wills that attempts to determine where reality ends and magic begins...all the while blurring the line between power and corruption, love and devotion, vigilance and mania and ultimately, life and death.

- with acknowledgement to www.rottentomatoes.com/illusionist.

BALTIMORE AND MORE

After a subdued show in Salisbury last night, this evening's concert in Baltimore was outstanding. Most of us were treated to a great Italian meal before the show by a baseball playing friend of Mac, and then we studied Judges chapter 8 about Gideon's battles. I've been doing more work on the book project today, and Brad gave me the pieces he's been writing- totally different style and approach to Tai, but incredibly strong and perceptive articles. I'm getting the feeling that the most inarticulate writer in this whole project is going to be me!

TOUGH QUESTION No.3

It's been a while since Baseball pitcher Josh Baker sent me a tough question, he's been on long term rehabilitation in Phoenix for the whole season. God's been at work in his life and here's his latest question for me to consider. I'll answer in a few days time.
"Over the past year it has been so evident to me the vulnerability to the Lord that we have when we are uncomfortable. This time in my life is the longest I have been away from the people I love, the culture that I’m used to, the place I worship, the folks I work with, and even the food that I like to eat. There is a part of me that would love to return to that, but at the same time there has never been a time in my life when I have needed to cling to Jesus more. My distractions are stripped away and the comfort zone of complacency that I operate in has gone and now the Lord has a direct path to some listening ears. I’ll be returning home soon but I desire to have this vulnerability with the Lord more than the comforts of home. I so desire the Lord to have some clean ears to speak to and a heart that longs for Him more that anything this dying world has to offer....."

KISS AND MAKE UP

So I'm waiting in the departure lounge at Jackson airport on my way via Dallas to Shreveport. Everyone except me starts staring at an old guy in denims- they're asking him for autographs, photos, to talk to their kids on the phone. People without cameras are even begging people with cameras to take pictures and send them on to them. Me? I'm totally oblivious and can't really be bothered to ask what the fuss is about. Someone else equally in the dark eventually asks the question, and it turns out the guy is Gene Simmons from Kiss. I didn't recognise him without his makeup! He was on my flight to Dallas as well. Whilst waiting in Dallas I managed to catch up with James again, and I'm now in Shreveport with good ole' boy Geof Barkley. Geof was Third Day's keyboard player for many years and we became firm friends on the road. Just for the record, the picture on the left is of Gene Simmons and not Geof Barkley.

SUNDAY IN JACKSON.

We're at a State Fair Ground in Mississippi and on Sundays I try to get everyone together for a Communion service-we had a sweet time together and the presence of God was evident as we prayed.
The upcoming band Leland are filling in for Dave Crowder today- Leland are 2 young brothers (21 and 18) from Texas with three of their friends. Their music is intense and worshipful, their lyrics are powerful and fresh, and one song in particular -Tears of the Saints- is destined to be a classic.
Earlier a bunch of us went to see a movie called The Prestige, about two rival magicians in 1890's England. Jealousy and revenge, life and death, illusion and reality, obsession and achievement, were all interwoven in this multi-layered mystery thriller. I couldn't help thinking of my old friend Pete McCahon, Christian escapologist and illusionist who sadly died far too young a few years ago. He would have absolutely loved this film. Here's a picture of Michael Caine and Hugh Jackman from the film.

MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN...

GO OUT IN THE MIDDAY SUN! So we did the Gulu Walk- 2 and a half miles around a Houston park in 80 degree plus heat and extreme humidity. It was well worth it though, Tai addressed the crowd beforehand and reminded us that we'd be walking in safety, with friends, carrying water, wearing comfortable shoes, and walking in daylight. Unlike the children who join the 'night commute' every evening in the area of Gulu in Northern Uganda so that they can find a safe place to sleep away from the people who steal them from their beds to force them to fight in an army.
The show in Houston tonight was in front of an audience of 10,000 and the band were pumped up and ready to give their all after we had shared a good devotional and prayer time in the dressing room. I watched from sidestage with my friend Mike Winegeart from Abilene Christian University. He drove over to talk to me about potential partnership ministry in India. The show really rocked- with Consuming Fire restored to the set list. Louie Giglio was backstage and he filled me in briefly about his struggles to find an appropriate venue in London for a Passion event. If you check out the Third Day weblog you'll see an amazing video clip of a large roof tile falling on David's drumkit just as the line 'when the world comes crashing down on you' was sung in yesterday's show!!